In 2000 to celebrate the Millennium, the Royal Mint on behalf of Malta released a very Limited Issue Millennium LM5 Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver with 24 Carat Gold Plating.
The obverse is the Armorial bearings of Malta and the Central Bank.
In celebration of the advent of the third Millennium, the Central Bank of Malta has chosen to issue a special commemorative coin embodying in its design concept elements of tradition and novelty, the new coin having an unusual oblong shape with round corners.
To reflect the historical fact that, in the third century BC, the island of Malta and Gozo were established as separate "Municipia" with a coinage of their own, two ancient Romano-Maltese coins are featured on the reverse design prominently positioned either side of a silhouette of the islands.
The obverse of the Malta coin portrays a profile portrait of a goddess, a representation of Astante wearing a wig and crown of upright petals, while Gozo's reverse features the standing figure of the goddess Juno Sospita in battle.
These legal tender coins have been struck to proof quality using specially prepared dies and highly polished blanks.